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Vladimir Putin's state TV has launched astonishing accusations against Britain, claiming Russia is 'dealing with a real special operation'.
09:44, Tue, Mar 31, 2026 Updated: 10:07, Tue, Mar 31, 2026
Russia has launched an astonishing attack against Britain (Image: GETTY/east2west)
Russia is blaming Britain for strikes that have massively damaged Baltic Sea oil and gas exporting ports, reigniting fears over a possible World War 3. One of these hubs - Ust-Luga - was attacked yet again overnight by Ukraine.
But Vladimir Putin’s state TV alleged that the strikes were masterminded by Britain, and involved incursions by the attack drones over the territory of NATO states including Finland and Estonia.
Russian military expert Vladislav Shurygin said: “It's absolutely certain that Ukraine itself would never have decided to fly into and use the airspace of NATO countries [to attack Russian oil ports in Leningrad region]….
“They understand only too well how that could end.
“The point is that everything was indeed agreed upon, the airspace was granted [by NATO states]….
“The main operator, so to speak, both in the Baltic countries, and especially in Ukraine, is London.
“We must understand that we are dealing with a real special operation, precisely in the London style, the classic kind.”
Ukraine has hit the Russian oil terminal at Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea for the third time in a week. Same target. Same drones. Same message: if Russia sells oil, Ukraine will make it expensive.
There is no evidence to suggest that the UK is behind the attack.
It is likely instead that Ukrainian drones attacking Leningrad region crossed into Finland and Estonia due to electronic warfare interference by Russian air defences.
The strikes on Ust-Luga and Primorsk have crippled Putin’s oil exports as world prices soar, hitting earrings for his war machine.
New Ukrainian strikes today hit Ust-Luga, on the south-eastern shore of the Gulf of Finland, for the sixth time in nine days.
This triggered major disruption at St Petersburg’s main airport Pulkovo where dozens of planes were delayed.
Drones were spotted over the districts of Kingisepp, close to the Russian border with Estonia, and Vyborg, near the border with Finland on the Gulf of Finland. A Finnair flight from Helsinki to Tartu in Estonia turned back amid a drone scare.
Earlier, a Ukrainian drone with an unexploded warhead fell on Finland.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said her country did not demand that Ukraine suspend or reduce attacks on Russian targets, despite incidents with "wandering" drones.
"Ukraine is allowed to defend itself. We do not make any demands on Ukraine regarding the targets it seeks to influence in Russia," the minister stated.
Russia reported the downing of dozens of Ukrainian drones early today. Damage and casualties were reported in or near Ust-Luga. Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would halt strikes on Russia energy facilities if Putin stopped similar attacks.
“If Russia is ready not to target Ukrainian energy, we will not retaliate against their energy sector,” he said.
It comes after it was reported that Russia was preparing to temporarily suspend all gasoline exports as of April 1, likely in response to domestic gasoline price increases partly caused by Ukraine's long-range strike campaigns against oil infrastructure.
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